Longtime Associated Press Reporter Mike Glover is today what journalists traditionally avoid: becoming a part of the news.

Glover, 64, is retiring after this month and elected officials from both parties are not letting their 36-year relationship with the journalist go into retirement without a few parting words.

Gov. Terry Branstad gave kudos to the longtime journalist at his weekly press conference Monday and today both the House and the Senate passed a resolution also honoring the regular “Iowa Press” journalist.

Sen. Daryl Beall, D-Fort Dodge, described Glover as having “a rare combination of passion and cynicism” that served him well in covering state politics. Sen. Dennis Black, D-Grinnell, agreed.

“I always felt as Sen. Beall that cynicism was just portrayed frequently in your articles and my opinion was that you cannot help but be a cynical writer when you report from the Iowa Capitol,” Black said as the members and their staff in the Senate chuckled.

Sen. Joe Bolcolm, D-Iowa City described Glover as an amazing reporter and Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, shared his memories, calling him a fair journalist.

Branstad on Monday stopped a press conference to recognize Glover, who is notorious for sitting on the top of a desk located in the governor’s large conference room and occasionally getting loud cell calls during press events.

“We’re going to miss you sitting on that piece of furniture,” said a jovial Branstad.

Glover has worked for the Associated Press for 32 years. Prior to the AP he worked at newspapers in Fort Dodge and Bloomington, Ill. He has covered multiple presidential candidates and has been a regular panelist on Iowa Public Television show “Iowa Press.”

Glover and his wife Betty live in Windsor Heights where she is a city councilwoman. They have a daughter and two grandchildren.